Ubiquitous connectivity and control system for remote locations

Abstract

A thermostat control system for monitoring and controlling environmental characteristics of a building includes a base station unit and a remote access unit continuously interfacing through instant wireless private direct connectivity. The system also includes a plurality of sensors that measure the environmental characteristics and provide the thermostat unit with the measurements.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for enabling select individuals to selectively control environmental conditions of a structure, comprising: a plurality of devices for controlling discrete environmental conditions in the structure; control means for operating each device to control a select environmental condition; a base unit in said structure; a mobile master remote unit operable by a first party; a mobile associate remote unit operable by a second party, said mobile associate remote unit transmitting an identification signal; receiving means associated with said base unit for receiving said identification signal when said mobile associate remote unit is with a proximate distance to the structure; selection means operatively associated with said base unit for establishing an authorized user status to said mobile associate remote unit based on said identification signal; instant wireless connectivity means; connectivity means providing an on-demand, private and direct communications interface between said base unit, said mobile master remote unit and said mobile associate remote unit having said authorized user status enabling instant wireless connectivity therebetween; means for providing a indication of current status of each of said devices to said base unit; means for transmitting said indication of current status of each of said devices through said connectivity means to said mobile master remote unit and for transmitting said indication of current status of select devices to said mobile associate remote unit; display means at said mobile associate remote unit for indicating said current status of said devices transmitted thereto; input means at each of said mobile associate remote unit for prescribing an indication of revised status for device displayed thereat; means for transmitting said indication of revised status through said connectivity means to said base unit; means operatively associated with said base unit and operatively connected with said devices for effecting revised status for a prescribed device. 
     
     
       2. The system according to  claim 1  wherein said mobile associate remote units are conventional cellular telephone handsets with custom programmability means. 
     
     
       3. The system according to  claim 2  wherein said mobile associate remote units include global positioning satellite (GPS) receivers for communicating present remote unit location information to said base unit. 
     
     
       4. The system according to  claim 1  wherein said connectivity means is the cellular telephone network. 
     
     
       5. The system according to  claim 1  wherein said mobile associate remote units include Bluetooth bidirectional communications modules.